Jalen Williams on NBA Finals trip: 'It feels very surreal'

USA Today

2 days ago

Jalen Williams on NBA Finals trip: 'It feels very surreal'
Sitting down with warm lights shining underneath him and virtually sitting in front of millions, Jalen Williams still couldn't process the last hour. The 24-year-old has answered any doubts about his validity to be the second-best player on a title contender with straight A-pluses and a spot in the Honor Roll. He'll likely need a few days to understand that fully.
Williams finished with 19 points on 7-of-14 shooting, eight rebounds and five assists. He shot 1-of-4 from 3 and went 4-of-5 on free throws. He also had a steal and a block.
The Thunder capped off a five-game Western Conference Finals with a 124-94 Game 5 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves. They punched their ticket to the 2025 NBA Finals.
Playing a similar style to his teammate Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Williams sliced through Minnesota's defense. He bulldozed his way to the rim for drives despite several defenders in his way. In transition, he was a beast that headlined a one-man show. It felt like every steal-to-score sequence featured the ball being in his hands at least once.
Williams has been superb throughout the entire playoffs, minus a few hiccups. The rhythm scorer has gotten in a groove early with his jumper and has utilized his thick frame to bully his way through defenses for easy looks at the basket or go to the free-throw line.
"It feels very surreal. I know that's a pretty typical word that people say but this is what I'm feeling. I haven't been able to wrap my head around it," Williams said on making the NBA Finals. "I think this being my third year, it kinda happened pretty fast. So I'm trying to put everything in perspective. My brother got in the NBA this year and his first year is already done. There's a lot of other things that go on that make me think how fast and blessed I am that get me to the point I'm at now."
Despite being a regular-season machine, the Thunder had their doubters. They shut them up real quick as they cruised through the Western Conference. Breaking an NBA record every other game, Williams said he didn't truly believe how dominating they were until they started doing the same in the playoffs.
"Honestly, the playoffs are a good challenge. Especially like the first round because the regular season doesn't even matter. That was our test. Last series with Denver, same kinda thing. When we were put up against adversity that we don't really have during the regular season and it's do-or-die moments. I think that's where we kinda grew up as a team," Williams said. "That last series was big for us. A lot of us, that was our first Game 7. Getting over the hump of the second round. I think that was big for us."